Callisto Deception

by John Read

Marie paused, taking a breath before adapting the proverb for Kevin. “When Kevin was born, he cried and the world rejoiced. He lived such that now, as the world cries, he’ll rejoice."

  Branson came out from the stateroom and floated toward me. For the first time, I realized how lanky he was, just like I was at his age. He wore a huge smile, as he pressed off one wall, doing a summersault and landing on the other.

  “You know we’re going to have to stick you in a resistor suit,” I said. “You’ve been on a low gravity world since you were two, and gravity’s going to hurt.”

  “Ah, Dad! C’mon!”

  “VR is a lot of fun. I’ve got all sorts of sports to teach you.”

  “I’m worried, John,” Marie said. “What if they can’t handle Earth’s gravity?”

  “We’re not going to Earth,” I replied.

  “Wait, what?” Marie said.

  Amelia looked over at her. “We’re going to Mars.”

  “The transition to Mars’s gravity will be much easier on the kids,” I said. “After they adjust to Mars’s gravity, and we’ve enrolled them in some high G therapy, then we’ll think about taking them back to Earth.”

  “Mars! Is that safe?” Marie said.

  “It better be safe,” Amelia said. “Last time I checked, your husband was still the president.”

  The End